I watched and taped both shows (and will do the same with the third
installment).  I was appalled not only with Mr. Vila's cavalier attitude
towards the furnishings and other artifacts in the museums he visited,
but also with his often equally cavalier attitude towards the people who
were showing him around.  He frequently cut them off in mid-sentence and
generally made it readily apparent that he often wasn't listening to what
they were saying.  This was particularly obvious in his treatment of the
guides at the Ace of Spades house in Texarkana and at one of the houses
in Natchez.  It was very clear that his tours were very rushed  - he
often appeared to flit from one piece of furniture to the next - fondling
everything in sight - with little or no focus to his activities or to his
presentation.  He often acted like a spoiled kid let loose in a toy store
who is so overcome by greed that he can't settle on any one toy.

Regardless of whether Mr. Vila is experienced in the handling of museum
artifacts or not (and heaven knows he's been through enough museums that
by now he should know better than to behave the way he does), he sets a
deplorable example for the public and makes the curators' and tour
guides' jobs all that much more difficult.


Chris J.-Andersen ([log in to unmask])

*************************************************************************
DISCLAIMER:  The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author
             and not those of his employer!
*************************************************************************